(Information was gleaned from copies of the Wet Mountain Tribune, all from the first week in November.)

100 Years Ago – 1909

On Sunday last while on their way to attend the Lutheran church the family of Mr. O’Greske in the Valley was precipitated from the vehicle in which they were riding out upon the ground in a violent manner, caused by the teams becoming fractious and running away. As a result one member, little Alma, eight years old, was killed, the child having had her neck broken by the fall to the ground. The funeral, conducted by the Rev. Carl Lange, took place on Thursday.

A Denver stock buyer purchased a fine big  bunch of three year old steers from Meyer Bros. of Gardner and on Tuesday started them from this point to Kansas City. There were about 250 head in the bunch and the  branch train had to make an extra trip to convey them to the main line.

Wallace Manning has secured the position of night engine watch at the railroad station with Will Rosentrauch’s resignation.

The Kuehn residence, formerly belonging to S.F. Jordan, in Silver Cliff will next week be moved to Westcliffe upon a sightly plot of ground Mr. Kuehn owns on south Second street. Contractor Fred Kipp will do the work.

A six ton platform wagon scale that cost new $165 can be bought at the La Rand Mill for $50. Also a lot of gas pipe from 1 to 4 inches. See the man in charge.

Through the generosity of our friend, Max Garnier, the Tribune family feasted on a fine mess of mallard ducks the first of the week.

50 Years Ago – 1959

A premature explosion in a mine shaft near Rosita last Friday took the life of Herman Piltz, well-known Custerite. Piltz had loaded several holes in the bottom of the 25-foot shaft with powder and lighted the fuse which ignited the explosive before he could be hoisted to safety. A native of Custer County, he saw active duty in France with the AEF during World War I.

Two Fremont County youths are in Custer County jail facing probable terms in the reformatory, all for 4 cents. Custer County Sheriff Stan DePriest arrested the boys Wednesday at their Florence and Canon City homes after the boys had broken into Hanssen’s filling station and carried off a large cash register. Only 4 pennies were found when the boys pried open the cash drawer. They had hauled the heavy register to the Oak Creek hill near Canon City and dumped it over a cliff. The boys said they had gained access after they unbolted a large garage door through which they later gained entry after Ed Spencer, night attendant, had closed up about 2 a.m.

Many reports of success have been turned in by local hunters. Alice Dieckman got her first buck this week. Others which have reported successful hunts include Melvin Roscoe, Ray DeWall, Marvin and Warren Rankin, Johnny Piquette, Ronnie Vickerman, Mylo Cope, Harry Koch, Bill Cody, Bobby Koch, Chuck Kastendieck, Phyllis Kastendieck, Jack Geroux, Albert Hanssen, “Moon” Schneider, Jimmy Patterson, Casper Henrich, Anita Henrich and Bill Henrich.

25 Years Ago – 1984

Silver Cliff Postmaster Chuck Kastendieck has retired after 26 years on the job. Peggy Wills has been named officer-in-charge until a permanent replacement is named.

The ladies of the Wetmore community have been busy as they finalize preparations for the annual Wetmore Ladies Aid Dinner and Bazaar to be held Sunday. This has been an annual event for the past 72 years.

The Custer County chapter of Amnesty International will meet tomorrow at the home of Rev. Jeff and Kathy Babb. Officers elected at the last meeting were president Susan Tichy, treasurer Steve Somora and secretary Kathy Babb.

Valley native Bob Kattnig and his wife, Peg, recently of Sterling, have purchased the Wet Mountain Meat Packing plant from Mike Coleman.

10 Years Ago – 1999

Valley voters gave a resounding thumbs-down Tuesday to the proposed C-1 school bond issue and the proposed mill levy increase for the West Custer County Library District. By a 60-40 margin – 756 to 502 – voters turned down the $6.9 million bond proposal to remodel the current school and build new classrooms and a new gymnasium. The library proposal, to increase the mill levy from 1.07 to 3.05 mills, lost by just 34 votes, 643 to 609.

With an architectural and engineering condition assessment in hand, the town of Silver Cliff is ready to take the next step in restoring its museum, the former town hall. Restoration of the structure is expected to cost about $100,000, according to town trustee Linda Swift and town clerk Sue Hutton who have been instrumental in efforts to restore the 1879-era building.

District Judge John Anderson has issued a permanent injunction against Bishop’s Castle, prohibiting the staging of “raves” at the facility.

5 Years Ago – 2004

By a vote of 1,216 to 927, voters approved the C-1 school district’s proposed $1.9 million bond issue to construct a new gymnasium and sports complex.

Memorial services will be held tomorrow for prominent resident Velda Menzel Hegner, late of rural Westcliffe. She died at her home at age 73 following a lingering illness. She was a member of one of the Valley’s prominent early families.

For the second year in a row, Jim Ward and his Missouri Fox Trotter named Rocky Top II have taken top honors in the North American Trail Ride Conference.

Custer County now has four Master Gardeners. Recently completing training through the CSU extension organization were Dianne Whalen, Gretchen Voll, Martha Seats and Cynthia Zapel.

1 Year Ago – 2008

Jim Austin and Lynn Attebery were elected by fairly substantial margins to the District 3 and District 2 seats on the board of county commissioners in Tuesday’s general election, which saw at least 77 percent of Custer County’s eligible voters cast ballots. Austin and Attebery, both Republicans, defeated their challengers solidly. In the District 3 race, Austin received 72 percent of the votes against his Green Party contender, and in the District 2 run-off, Attebery chalked up 64 percent of the votes to his Democrat challenger.

This past Monday, ten residents representing several civic and non-profit organizations traveled to Fort Carson for briefings organized by retired army major general Joe Arbuckle of rural Westcliffe.

American Legion Post 170 reminds the public that winter coats for both children and adults are available at no charge at Rocky Mountain Log Homes.